While sexual assault has been in the public spotlight in recent months, Girls Inc. has long been committed to preventing sexual harassment and violence because we have seen first-hand the impact these violations have on girls’ lives. All too frequently, these incidents are not taken seriously and are swept under the rug. The question everyone is asking is: how do we combat this and where do we go from here?

On the 1-year anniversary of the #MeToo movement going viral, the entire Girls Inc. national organization launched #GirlsToo, a campaign against sexual harassment. The first step to stop this epidemic is for everyone to educate themselves about these issues, and then commit to being agents of change.

Sexual harassment and violence is an epidemic, and the problem starts at a young age. 1 in 4 girls experience sexual assault before the age of 18, and nearly 7 in 10 girls report being harassed in high school. And the effects of sexual violence follow girls into adulthood, as survivors are at risk for experiencing depression, PTSD, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicide.